As winter settles in and the festive season approaches, Rock Paper Shotgun, a popular gaming news outlet, announces it will be taking a well-deserved winter break. The team echoes the sentiment that the treehouse headquarters is far too chilly for this time of year and has thus decided to shutter its windows until the new year rolls in. However, in an act of thoughtful preparation and festive spirit, they have not left their readers without content to enjoy over the holiday season.
One of the most anticipated pieces of content that has been scheduled for release is the announcement of their Game of the Year for 2023. Despite some readers on Discord speculating that the winner is a foregone conclusion, the official reveal is set to take place with much fanfare. Echoing holiday traditions, the staff at Rock Paper Shotgun treat the event with a playful seriousness akin to a game of charades around the family table.
The Rock Paper Shotgun team highlights that their holiday content isn’t just a filler but a cornucopia of gaming goodness. For those who felt let down by any omissions from the Advent Calendar, the RPS Selection Boxes serve as a sort of redress. Here, each staff member puts forward their personal gaming highlights – the ones that narrowly missed inclusion on the regular calendar – offering a more individualized and eclectic set of recommendations. These will be available for readers' perusal, one for each day starting from December the 26th.
Aside from the game recommendations, retrospectives serve as a grounding force, reminding fans of all the digital experiences that defined the year. These include rundown lists of the best reviews and features produced by the team, offering readers a chance to revisit the highs of the gaming year. Additionally, the guides team provides insights by compiling the elements that shaped the year from their perspective. This includes a wide range of guides that have helped players through various gaming journeys.
To further provide value to their readers, Rock Paper Shotgun is releasing a slate of Supporter-funded posts to the general public. This grants all readers access to a wealth of exclusive content, typically reserved for the outlet’s financial backers. Interested individuals can find these by searching the 'From The Archive' tag, which also features a collection of other Supporter posts.
Not everything is of a serious gaming nature, as the staff also draws attention to their annual Christmas Crackers. A tradition of sharing terrible holiday jokes, the team jovially admits to surpassing their own standards in terms of cringe-worthy humor. These tidbits of comedy are scheduled to share a laugh (or groan) each day of the festive break.
Rock Paper Shotgun ensures they are leaving their readers in good spirits and with plenty to engage with as they step away. The outlet bids a temporary farewell and extends heartfelt holiday wishes. They encourage fans to partake in the holiday spirit by sharing their gaming-related resolutions for the upcoming year in the comments. The team promises to return after the holidays, specifically on January 2, 2024, hopefully when the treehouse is a touch warmer, and their readers a tad less hungover. The sentiment is clear: it's time for rest, for festive enjoyment, but also a time to look forward to the surprises and joy that the world of gaming will bring in 2024.
